Working in Qatar (Part III): Qatar’s Working Environment
(compiled By) Joyce Anne Agacer, Dec 23, 2005
Qatar has strong educational systems but due to the insufficient number of citizens, it is unable to generate enough graduating students to meet the large demand of the private and public sector. Bringing in foreign workers is the only alternative available.
Foreigners or expatriates working in Qatar
Expatriates, who dominate the Qatar's labor force, play a very important role in different sectors of the economy since the locals do not exceed more than 25% in a total estimated population of 550,000. The Indians constitute the largest expatriate group with an estimated population of 120,000 followed by Pakistanis, Filipinos, Bangladeshis and others.
The Ministry of Interior and the Labor Department of the Civil Service Diwan regulate recruitment of expatriate labor. The Qatari government has been taking up measures to balance the nationalities of the manpower recruited. It is also planning to develop its own human resources at different levels by encouraging the educationally and technically qualified youth to join the public and private sectors.
However, the large demand for foreign labor completely offsets the country's pace of Qatarisation.
Work Environment
Qatar's labor laws give preference in hiring first to Qataris, then to other Arabs, and finally to other foreigners. Foreign workers are strictly controlled. Their visas stipulate that they must work for a specific Qatari sponsor at a designated job. Foreigners are not permitted to own a business or a property in Qatar, except in partnership with a Qatari who owns more than 50%.
Compensation
Qatar offers highly competitive compensation packages that attract high skilled workers from around the world. The average wage of Qatar provides a decent standard of living for a worker and family.
Expatriate workers are normally given accommodation along with salaries, end of service benefits and return tickets to fly home every one or two years. However, no minimum wages are fixed by law and fixing of salaries and other perks is a matter of negotiation between the employer and the employee. Trade Unions are not acknowledged and strikes are considered illegal.
Minimum Wage
There is no minimum wage, although the law provides the Amir with authority to set one. (Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Qatar – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State)
Qatar is an income tax free country.
